Picture frame

ABSTRACT

A picture frame comprising four pairs of bracket members, one pair associated with each corner of a picture assembly. Each bracket engages one of the edges of the picture assembly near a corner thereof and has a post member contacting the back of the picture frame assembly. There is also provided a connection between each associated pair of brackets at a medial location, the brackets being arranged to extend perpendicular from an edge of the picture assembly and to cross each other at said medial location. There is also provided a cord which interconnects all the bracket connections and which is spring biased to be maintained in tension to urge the four associated bracket pairs inwardly toward the center of the picture so that a truss-like action is provided with the post member of each bracket being urged toward the back of the picture assembly.

United States Patent Eubank, Jr.

154] PICTURE FRAME Joseph P. Eubank, Jr., 2218 Mount Vernon St., Philadelphia, Pa. 19130 [22]. Filed: 1811.4,1971

[21] Appl. No.: 103,602

[72] Inventor:

51 July 18, 1972 Primary Examiner-Robert W. Michell Assistant Examiner-Wenceslad J. Contreras Attorney-Smith, Harding, Earley & Follmer [57] ABSTRACT A picture frame comprising four pairs of bracket members, one pair associated with each corner of a picture assembly. Each bracket engages one of the edges of the picture assembly near a corner thereof and has a post member contacting the back of the picture frame assembly. There is also provided a connection between each associated pair of brackets at a medial location, the brackets being arranged to extend perpendicular from an edge of the picture assembly and to cross each other at said medial location. There is also provided a cord which interconnects all the bracket connections and which is spring biased to be maintained in tension to urge the four associated bracket pairs inwardly toward the center of the picture so that a truss-like action is provided with the post member of each bracket being urged toward the back of the picture assembly.

9 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PATENTEDJUL181972 FIG.

Q Q INVENTOR 24 JOSEPH EUBANK, Jr 42 BY f M) M d/J7 v/A' m ATTORNEYS PICTURE FRAME BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to picture frames and particularly to picture frames of the type which are adjustable for the mounting of pictures of various sizes.

While there have been provided various types of picture frames of the indicated type, these picture frames have not been satisfactory in achieving all of the various features desired in a completely satisfactory adjustable picture frame. For example, these prior art picture frames have not been able to provide a firm mounting for the picture assembly while at the same time preventing warping and being constructed of a simple, inexpensive combination of parts.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is the general object of the invention to provide a picture frame which is capable of mounting various size pictures and which can prevent warping in addition to many other desirable features. For example, the picture frame assembly in accordance with the invention is adapted to be able to be changed quickly from one picture to another, produces a very firm mounting for the picture, is simple and inexpensive, is adjustable for various sizes and thicknesses of picture frames, and is adjustable to provide various spacings of the picture from the wall in its mounted condition.

Briefly stated, the picture frame in accordance with the invention comprises a pair of bracket members associated with each corner of the picture assembly, the bracket members being secured together at a medial portion located on the back side of the picture assembly. Each bracket member has one end formed to receive an edge of the picture assembly and its other end formed to extend at an angle to the medial portion thereof to space the same away from the back side of the picture assembly. There is provided a cord means which extends between each of the bracket pairs and engages the same at a location on said medial portions. There is also provided a spring means which maintains the cord in a spring biased condition to urge the bracket pairs together.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the picture frame in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is a front view of a picture assembly secured together by the picture frame assembly shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view of one corner of the picture frame; and

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view ofa detail.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT A picture frame in accordance with the invention comprises a pair of brackets and 12 which are essentially identical in construction and which are associated with each corner of a picture assembly which typically consists of a front pane of glass 14, a picture 16 and a backing member 18.

The bracket 10 comprises a turned end adapted to receive the edge of the picture assembly and including an end leg 20 which extends parallel to the picture assembly and a leg 21 which extends perpendicular to leg 20. Extending inwardly from leg 21 and along the backing member 18 is a body portion 22 which terminates at a post portion 23 which extends perpendicular to body portion 22 and to the picture assembly. Extending inwardly from post portion 23 and in spaced relation to the backing member 18 is a medial body portion 24 which terminates at an end post member 25 which extends perpendicularly from medial portion 24 into contact with the backing member 18 as is best shown in FIG. 3. A strip of resilient material 26, such as foam rubber, is adhered to the side of portion 22 facing the backing member 18. This resilient strip 26 permits the bracket 10 to receive securely various thicknesses of picture assemblies.

The bracket 12 is essentially identical in construction to bracket 10 and corresponding parts have the same function. Thus, there is provided a turned end comprised of a pair of legs 30 and 31, a medial portion 32 which terminates at perpendicular post 33 from which a medial portion 34 extends to terminate at a post member 35. There is also provided a resilient strip 36 which is adhered to portion 32 and provides the same function as the resilient strip 26. The only essential difference between members 10 and 12 is that the posts 33 and 35 are longer than the posts 23 and 25 by an amount approximating the thickness of medial portion 24. This is to permit the bracket 12 to overlap the bracket 10 with the post member 35 in contact with the backing member 18 as is shown in FIG. 3.

There is provided a group of five holes 28 in medial portion 24 of bracket 10, the holes getting progressively larger in the direction from end post 25 toward post 23 for a purpose to be described more fully hereafter. The medial portion 34 of bracket 12 is provided with a group of holes 38 corresponding to holes 28in size and arrangement.

Each pair of the brackets 10 and 12 are secured together on the back side of the picture assembly at its corners in the crossed, overlapped relation shown in FIG. 1 by means of a mounting screw 40 and a cooperating nut 42. The mounting screw 40 extends from a conical head through a pair of aligned holes 28 and 38 of the same size and engages the nut 42 which is on the side of medial portion 24 of bracket 10 facing the backing 18. The conical portion of the nut 40 is on the outside of the medial portion 34 of bracket 12 as is best shown in FIG. 4 and cooperates with the holes 28 and 38 to position the brackets 10 and 12.

As is shown in FIG. 1, there are provided four pairs of the brackets 10 and 12, each pair being associated with one of the corners of the picture assembly and each being positioned to engage one of the edges forming the corners of the picture assembly.

Means are provided for interconnecting mechanically each of the four pairs of the brackets 10 and 12. Such means comprises a cord or the like 50 which is looped around each of the head portions of the screws 40 projecting outwardly from the bracket portion 34 to form a generally rectangular loop as is shown in FIG. 1. The ends of the cord 50 are connected together by a spring 52 to thereby place the cord under a biased tension condition. This arrangement has the effect of urging each of the bracket pairs inwardly toward the center of the picture and the turned ends of each bracket into securing engagement with an associated edge of the picture assembly. In this manner, the various parts of the picture frame assembly are secured together and in the manner to provide a support for the picture assembly as will be apparent.

It will be noted that the force applied by the spring biased core to each pair of brackets 10 and 12 will serve to urge the post members 25 and 35 toward the backing member 18 at the points of contact therebetween. However, by reason of the construction and arrangement of parts, the force applied to the end of the picture frame assembly will have a component in the opposite direction. It will be noted that the forces applied at posts 25 and 35 involve truss-like action.

An added feature of the invention is that there is provided a rubber washer 44 on the upper end of the head portion of each mounting screw 40. These rubber washers 44 serve as wall bumpers to prevent marking or scratching of the walls on which the frame is mounted.

The above construction and arrangement involving the application of the forces at posts 25 and 35 to the backing member at eight locations around the picture assembly, serves to prevent the warping of the picture assembly. Moreover, there is a very secure mounting of the picture assembly at each corner thereof. It will also be apparent that the disassembly and reassembling of the picture frame is a very simple matter involving simply removing the cord 50 from its spring biased engagement with the screws 40, and then replacing the cord 50 about the screws 40 after the brackets are positioned on the new picture assembly.

In adjusting the picture frame in accordance with the invention to handle pictures of various sizes, it is simply a matter of selecting the proper one of the holes 28 and 38 which best suits the picture involved. The holes closest to the turned ends 20, 21 and 30, 31 will be more suitable for smaller sized pictures since the points of engagement of these turned ends with the edges of the picture assembly will be closer to the corner. Once the hole size is established, the mounting screw 40 is simply secured in position in the arrangement shown in FIG. 3 in the selected pair of holes 28 and 38 of the same size.

The arrangement in accordance with the invention is also adapted to space the picture away from the wall various distances when mounted on the wall. Referring to FIG. 4, the solid line shows the position of the various parts when the smallest openings 28 and 38 are utilized. In this arrangement, the picture will be spaced from the wall, an amount corresponding to the dimension "A" which is the spacing from the medial portion 34 of bracket 12 to the top of the mounting screw 40. When the larger size opening is used, which position is shown in dotted lines in FIG. 4, this spacing will be considerably smaller as indicated at 8" in FIG. 4. The practical advantage of this arrangement is that for the smaller size pictures it is more desirable to have them positioned closer to the wall than a larger size picture. It will be noted that the screw 40 will assume the position shown in dotted lines in FIG. 4 in contact with the holes on medial portions 24 and 34 because when the picture frame is mounted on a wall, the mounting screws 40, which contact the wall, are moved toward the picture assembly to a position whereat the conical portion of each screw 40 contacts these holes.

The mounting of the picture frame in accordance with the invention on the wall will be accomplished by simply connecting one of the legs of the cord 50 into an appropriate mounting hook secured to the wall. It will be noted that, by reason of the flexibility of the spring tensioned cord 50, the picture will be mounted on the wall with all four of the mounting screws 40 in contact with the wall whereby the picture will extend parallel to the wall.

It will be apparent that various changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. A picture frame comprising a bracket means associated with each corner of a picture assembly, each bracket means including a pair of bracket members, and means securing said bracket members together at a medial portion located on the back side of the picture assembly, each bracket member having one end formed to receive an edge of the picture assembly and the other end formed to extend at an angle to the medial portion thereof to thereby space said medial portion away from the back side of the picture assembly, cord means extending between each of said bracket means and engaging the same at a location on said medial portions spaced from the back side picture assembly, and means maintaining said cord means in a biased tension condition to urge said bracket means together and toward a central location of the picture assembly, to urge said other end of each bracket member toward contact with the back side of said picture assembly and to urge said one end of each bracket member into securing engagement with an associated edge of the picture assembly.

2. A picture frame according to claim 1 wherein said bracket means are arranged in crossed relation with part of said medial portions of each of said pairs of bracket members in overlapping relationship, said securing means engaging said overlapping portions.

3. A picture frame according to claim 2 wherein said securing means includes a mounting screw associated with each bracket means having a head portion extending outwardly from the uppermost of said overlapped bracket portions, said cord means being looped around said head portions and having ends interconnected by a tension spring.

4. A picture frame according to claim 3 wherein each bracket member has a portion immediately adjacent said picture assembly engaging end which extends alon the back side of the picture assembly and 15 joined to said me la] portion associated therewith by a leg portion extending transversely to the back side of said picture assembly.

5. A picture frame according to claim 4 wherein each bracket member has a resilient strip adhered to the side of said last-mentioned portion facing the back side of the picture assembly.

6. A picture frame according to claim 3 wherein said medial portions of each bracket are provided with at least one hole adapted to receive said mounting screw.

7. A picture frame according to claim 6 wherein each said mounting screw extends through said holes and each said head portion has a conical wall cooperating with said holes.

8. A picture frame according to claim 7 wherein each of said bracket members has a plurality of holes of various sizes located in said medial portions thereof.

9. A picture frame according to claim 8 wherein said mounting screws are provided with a rubber washer on the end of said head portion thereof, each said washer serving as a wall bumper. 

1. A picture frame comprising a bracket means associated with each corner of a picture assembly, each bracket means including a pair of bracket members, and means securing said bracket memberS together at a medial portion located on the back side of the picture assembly, each bracket member having one end formed to receive an edge of the picture assembly and the other end formed to extend at an angle to the medial portion thereof to thereby space said medial portion away from the back side of the picture assembly, cord means extending between each of said bracket means and engaging the same at a location on said medial portions spaced from the back side picture assembly, and means maintaining said cord means in a biased tension condition to urge said bracket means together and toward a central location of the picture assembly, to urge said other end of each bracket member toward contact with the back side of said picture assembly and to urge said one end of each bracket member into securing engagement with an associated edge of the picture assembly.
 2. A picture frame according to claim 1 wherein said bracket means are arranged in crossed relation with part of said medial portions of each of said pairs of bracket members in overlapping relationship, said securing means engaging said overlapping portions.
 3. A picture frame according to claim 2 wherein said securing means includes a mounting screw associated with each bracket means having a head portion extending outwardly from the uppermost of said overlapped bracket portions, said cord means being looped around said head portions and having ends interconnected by a tension spring.
 4. A picture frame according to claim 3 wherein each bracket member has a portion immediately adjacent said picture assembly engaging end which extends along the back side of the picture assembly and is joined to said medial portion associated therewith by a leg portion extending transversely to the back side of said picture assembly.
 5. A picture frame according to claim 4 wherein each bracket member has a resilient strip adhered to the side of said last-mentioned portion facing the back side of the picture assembly.
 6. A picture frame according to claim 3 wherein said medial portions of each bracket are provided with at least one hole adapted to receive said mounting screw.
 7. A picture frame according to claim 6 wherein each said mounting screw extends through said holes and each said head portion has a conical wall cooperating with said holes.
 8. A picture frame according to claim 7 wherein each of said bracket members has a plurality of holes of various sizes located in said medial portions thereof.
 9. A picture frame according to claim 8 wherein said mounting screws are provided with a rubber washer on the end of said head portion thereof, each said washer serving as a wall bumper. 